2012 Dolls of the World China

I visited a Big Lots, found a China with good eyes, and felt compelled to buy her.  I don't think she's as stunning as the first Barbie Basic #05, but she does have a charm.  I think she looks a bit younger, softer, and less carefully plucked and primped.

The dress is lined with translucent nylon knit.  It's not the best looking choice, but it's a lot better than nothing.  Several previous similar dresses aren't lined at all.  It's a simple dress, but it's also solid.  It reminds me of vintage Barbie dresses in that respect.

These recent Dolls of the World were obviously meant to be extensions of the playline instead of regular collector dolls, so I don't understand why her fashion isn't removable.  Some dolls in this line do have removable fashions, but they're all on the Shani body, so finding Mattel-made recent fashions is impossible.

I'll have to behead her eventually, I want to fix that Babylon 5 hair style they gave her.  The prototype has a loop and then a ponytail behind it, but the production doll seems to have her hair pulled back, curled under, and then hacked off.  I hope there's enough hair left to restyle.

I tossed down $20 for her, and even thought I feel a bit iffy about that price, I don't regret it.